Car retarder



Jan. 25, 1932. w. P. RILEY 1,842,767

CAR RETARDER Original Filed Nov. 9, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v j r I 1 IIIHII IHIIH Jan. 26, 1932. w. P. RILEY 1,842,767

CAR RETARDER Original Filed Nov. 9, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan 26, 1932 STATES WILLIAM P. RILEY, OF AYER, MIASSACHUSETTS CAR nnrennnn Application filed November 9, 1928, Serial No. 318,232.

This invention relates to retarding devices for railway cars and is especially adapted for use in railroad yards where grades are provided for switching cars from one position .5 to another, the yards being commonly referred to as hump yards.

An object of the present invention is to provide means which may be suitably positioned to retard the travel of freely moving cars, so

i that the services of brakemen for this purpose may be dispensed with, the travel of the cars being automatically retarded through the use of the present invention.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view taken transversely of a railroad track with the invention applied, the wheels of a car being shown in position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the track.

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view showing a portion of a railroad track equipped with a slightly different form of the invention, the invention being shown in inactive position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure lshowing the invention in active position.

a", Figure (3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional. view taken substantially on the line G6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a similar view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 5, the section being on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corre- 4; sponding parts, the reference character R indicates the rails of a railroad track and W the wheels of a car upon the track, the wheels being provided with the usual flanges F.

The invention comprises a retarder rail 10 which is adapted to be positioned adjacent Renewed July 7, 1931.

one of the rails R with the top of the rail 10 so spaced below the tread surface of the rail R that the flange F of one of the wheels V will engage the upper surface of the rail 10. Engagement of the flange F with the rail 10 will cause the wheel of said flange to travel slower than the opposite wheel W, and as both wheels are fast upon the axle A, the difference in circumference of the flange F and the tread of the wheels will provide a retarding effect so that the car will be gradually brought to a stop.

The retarder rails 10 may be of a single rail length arranged at intervals along the track, or the rail lengths may be arranged to provide a continuous retarder rail, the length of which will depend upon the character of the grade.

The retarder rail 10 may be secured to the ties by spikes 11 and bolted to the rail R by means of bolts 12 as shown in Figures land 2 of the drawings so that the retarder rail will be permanently positioned.

If desired, the retarder rail may be moved relatively to the rail R- as shown in Figures 4 to 7 of the drawings, the retarder rail being indicated at 10a. In these figures the rail 10a is movable upon bolts or studs 13 which extend from the adjacent rail R, while springs 14 positioned upon these bolts between the rails 10a and R act to yieldingly force the rail 10a outward or away from the rail R and to an inactive position.

In order to move the rail 10a to an active position so as to be engaged by the flange F, the rail 10a has pivotally secured thereto links 15. These links are in turn pivotally secured to a rod 16 which is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in bearings 17. The rod 16 is provided with spaced laterally extending stops or studs 18 between which is positioned an arm 19. This arm is rigid with a rock shaft 20 which extends transversely of the rails and is mounted in a bearing 21. A handle 22 upon the outer end of the rock shaft 20 provides for operation of the latter.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that when the handle 22 is rocked the rail 10a through the medium of the rod 16 and links 15 will be moved toward or away from the adjacent rail R, depending upon the direction of movement of the handle 22. Movement in one direction will force the b rail 10a inward in the path of the wheels of the car and upon one side of the latter, and as the rails 10 and 10a are so spaced as to be engaged by the edge of the flanges of the wheels, the treads of the wheels will be raised from the adjacent rail B. As the diameter of the flange is greater than the diametero-f the wheel tread, wheels riding upon the rails 10 and 10a, will travel slower than the wheels upon the opposite rail B. As the wheels are 15 fast upon both ends of the axle, tendency of the wheels upon one end to turn slower than the Wheels upon the other end of the axles will retard rotation and produce a braking effect.

The invention is susceptible of various 'changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to makesueh changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A car retarder comprising in combination with a railway track, a vertically immovable retarder rail positioned adjacent one of the rails of the track and having its upper face spaced below the tread of the track rail for contact with the edge of the flange of a car wheel to provide a bearing surface for 5; said wheel.

2. A car retarder comprising in combination with a railwayrtrack, a vertically immovable retarder rail positioned adjacent oneof the rails of the track and having its 9 upper face positioned to engage the edge of the flange of a car wheel, means to mount the retarder rail for movement into and out of active position, and means to move said. retarder rail.

3. A car retarder comprising in combination with a railway track, means located in the path of the wheels uponone side of a car passing over the track to engage the U wheels and retard the speed of rotation of '39; the engaged wheels only.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

WILLIAM P. RILEY. 

